House Showdown Over NEA Funding : Floor Debate May Start on Thursday

The House of Representatives appears ready to tackle the thorny issue of reauthorizing the National Endowment for the Arts this week.

Two efforts to limit the kinds of projects the federal agency can fund were beaten back Monday, and three key representatives compromised on legislative language to extend the agency’s life for three years without anti-obscenity restrictions.

What promises to be a bruising floor debate in the House may come up as early as Thursday.

In the House Appropriations Committee on Monday, Rep. Ralph Regula (R-Ohio) withdrew an amendment to a proposed money bill that would have banned the agency from supporting “indecent” projects or work deemed “inappropriate for a general audience.” Regula said he would renew his fight against support for “indecent” art projects if a separate reauthorization measure doesn’t come before the full House.

The committee also defeated an amendment by Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) that would have stopped funds from going to the NEA if a reauthorization bill is not passed.

In a separate, but related, matter, Reps. Pat Williams (D-Mont.), Tom Coleman (R-Mo.) and Steve Gunderson (R-Wis.) apparently concluded an agreement to limit direct funding to state arts agencies to 30% of the NEA budget, sources said. Earlier proposals had sought 60%.

The compromise agreement also provides for no controls over the content of NEA-funded arts projects and would extend the life of the agency for three years.